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Red Dead Redemption 2 is often considered a “masterpiece” in the gaming industry and here are five reasons why it retains the title.
Calling Red Dead Redemption 2 a “masterpiece” is a popular opinion. The gaming industry doesn’t majorly agree on a view often, but this game will unite a lot of gamers when you ask them about their experience with the “Wild West” title by Rockstar Games.
There are many reasons why you might like RDR 2, but it’s not possible to list them all in a shortlist. So, we will note the top five reasons why Red Dead Redemption 2 is still an incredible open-world experience.
NOTE: This article contains the writer’s opinions and could contain potential spoilers.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Is a Masterpiece Because of These Key Reasons
RDR 2 is mostly a third-person story-driven game that follows the story of Arthur Morgan. He is a complicated man; part of a gang running from the law, doing their dirty work, while introspecting his actions. Every action has a consequence and shapes the world around you. Although the ending is inevitable—the path you take, whether high or low honor, will determine how Arthur Morgan’s story is concluded. The following reasons are why this game is still a masterpiece:
- Attention to detail
- Dynamic world
- Immersion
- Combat
- Story
Those who wish to read our explanation behind each point should feel free to keep scrolling below.
1. Attention to Detail
RDR 2 is full of details that you probably wouldn’t notice during your first 10 hours or so. People may not even observe them until after they have finished the game. Irrespective of how insignificant these details are to the game’s core mechanics, the developers still put a lot of love into them. It took Rockstar Games over 8 years to fully develop Red Dead Redemption 2 and the details in the game show us why.
When you cook food on a campfire, it changes color. All NPCs have a daily routine and animals follow certain patterns which resemble real life. You will find two wolves playing with each other or two deer head-butting for dominance. When you walk on ice, the protagonist slips. There are many cool details in Red Dead Redemption 2 that make it a masterpiece.
2. Dynamic World
Players will face several choices on their way to the game’s climax. All of them will shape the world around us. There are two major paths, high and low honor. Depending on what kind of man Arthur Morgan was, the epilogue will reflect his actions. From donating to the Quincy Harris Memorial Hall in Saint Denis to finding listening to people talk about Arthur after his death.
While it is best to complete the side missions as they pop up, there is no declared “canon”. So, if players pick a side quest in between once Arthur has died, they will find that the NPCs behave quite differently with John Marston.
3. Immersion
While the details are part of the immersing experience of Red Dead Redemption 2, it’s not the only thing that makes it a masterpiece. The fact that players can live in the shoes of a late-19th-century outlaw is good enough. What makes it better is that you can carry out your day-to-day life as Arthur Morgan, and later as John Marston.
Realistic factors like temperature management, sleep, food, cleanliness, horse management, etc. can seem slow and annoying to some gamers who are used to fast-paced experiences in the gaming world. However, those who like to take a virtual stroll, observe, and completely immerse themselves will agree that this game lives up to its hype.
4. Combat
Players get to pick combat moments at times. Other times, they are ambushed or forced to resort to violence. When the latter is the only way out of a situation, you don’t lose honor for hurting people. Irrespective of the motivations, the combat will always be fun in this game. Unlike past Rockstar Games, the stealth is pretty enhanced in Red Dead Redemption 2, and so is hand-to-hand combat.
You can either clear out a group of enemies via stealth, fighting them with your fists, or shoot and explode your way to your final goal. We don’t have automatic guns in the game because it is technically set between 1899 and 1907. However, you will still find it fun to shoot repeater weapons.
5. Story
Grand Theft Auto has always had a satirical narrative. But when it comes to Red Dead, the franchise always cooks up something serious in the plots. Don’t get me wrong, Red Dead Redemption 2 has a lot of fun and light-hearted moments of joy. I loved the mission in Strawberry where drunk Arthur had to find Lenny. However, the theme of self-discovery and becoming a better person was pretty heavy and struck my heart deeply.
The plot and the narration are two more reasons why Red Dead Redemption 2 is still a masterpiece, and not many single-player games take big enough steps to sacrifice the protagonist for the greater good of the plot and the continuation of the series. John avenging Arthur, just like Jack avenged his father in the first game, was a cherry on top. The story of the outlaws came full circle.
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